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The All-New 2015 Honda Fit: It's Definitely Different

The Motley Fool gets a close-up look at Honda's all-new subcompact.

Honda (NYSE:HMC) took the wraps off its much-anticipated 2015 Fit at the North American International Auto Show on Monday.

We -- the Motley Fool's John Rosevear and Rex Moore -- were right there in Detroit, and we got a close-up look at Honda's all-new subcompact.

What we saw wasn't a complete surprise. Last year, Honda showed off a prototype version of the 2015 Fit in a press conference in Japan, and the car went on sale in other parts of the world late last year. Photos of that prototype car caused some controversy among Honda enthusiasts, who felt that Honda had a good thing going with the outgoing Fit's cheery good looks.

Honda's U.S. sales chief John Mendel posed with the all-new 2015 Fit on Monday in Detroit. Photo credit: Honda.

The new car certainly has edgier styling than the old Fit. The grill is similar to those seen on some other new Hondas, and as John says in the video below, it's a "love it or hate it" kind of thing. Overall we think that the 2015 Fit looks pretty good in person, but it might be an acquired taste. Hopefully, our shots in the video below will give you a chance to decide if you agree.

The interior is a step up from that in past versions of the Fit. Competition from well-finished cars like Ford's Fiesta has raised the bar even among inexpensive small cars. To compete well in the subcompact segment, new models need a lot more than the cheap-but-functional interiors we've seen in years past.

Now, the price of entry includes an attractive design rendered in good-quality materials that are well-assembled -- and some high-tech touches that cater to the needs and tastes of the tech-savvy, smartphone-equipped 20-somethings whom all automakers hope to win over. The new Fit has those bases covered, along with one other that is sometimes marginal in this class: Its back seat is surprisingly roomy and comfortable, even for adult-sized passengers. (John is six feet tall, and didn't feel cramped in the Fit's back seat).

In the video below, you can see our full report on the 2015 Fit right from the show floor in Detroit. Check it out, and then scroll down to leave a comment and let us know: Did Honda hit the mark with the all-new Fit, or is its styling a little too edgy to be appealing?